Valenti And Foster: Which Intrigues You More, Pistons Or Red Wings?

With big changes looming for both franchises, the Pistons and Red Wings open their seasons with an aura of excitement. While taking a backseat to the Lions and Tigers in popularity for the last several years, the two franchises have fought to remain relevant to fans in Detroit.

Joe Dumars and the Pistons made a splash this offseason, adding eight new players including high-profile free agent Josh Smith and trading for point guard Brandon Jennings. The Pistons also brought back 2004 Finals MVP, 37-year-old Chauncey Billups, to not only mentor the young team, but contribute on the court as well.

The team went through its fourth coaching change in six years, naming Maurice Cheeks head coach and adding former Piston Rasheed Wallace as a player development coach.

The Pistons have averaged just over 14,500 in attendance over the last two seasons, putting the franchise in the bottom 10% of the league. With renovations spurred by new owner Tom Gores, the front office hopes to pull fans back to Auburn Hills with a successful product.

For the Red Wings, a long-awaited move to the Eastern Conference has finally become a reality. Starting this season, the Red Wings will compete in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference and will contend against Original Six teams Boston, Montreal, and Toronto.

The realignment leaves the Red Wings with just two games against the rival Chicago Blackhawks, which has stayed in the Western Conference. The Wings lost in seven games to the Blackhawks in last season’s Western Conference semifinals in a 2-1 overtime thriller.

The Red Wings also prepare to play their final seasons at legendary Joe Louis Arena due to the construction of a new area in line to open in 2017.

With so many changes coming to both franchises, which are you more excited to see this season, the Red Wings or the Pistons?